Some older adults with diabetes overtreated for their disease

the ONA take:

According to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, many older adults with diabetes are being overtreated for their disease.

For the study, researchers from Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, identified nearly 1,300 adults aged 65 years and older with diabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and separated them into three cohorts depending on their state of health: relatively healthy, complex/intermediate health, and very complex/poor health.

Results showed that among all participants, 61.5% had tight glycemic control, which was defined as an A1C less than 7%. In the relatively healthy group, 62.8% had tight glycemic control compared with 63% of those in the complex/intermediate health group and 56.4% of those in the very complex/poor health group.

In addition, about 55% of patients were treated with either sulfonylureas or insulin. Although the American Diabetes Association recommends an A1C level less than 7% among patients with diabetes, older patients are more susceptible to hypoglycemia and may benefit less from such tight glycemic control.

Those with diabetes in complex/intermediate or very complex/poor health are at a higher risk of treatment-related harms and less likely to derive benefit from intensive glycemic control.

Many older adults with diabetes are being overtreated for their disease.

Diabetes frequently affects adults over 65. However, the best way for this age group to manage their glucose levels has been poorly defined by experts. New research now suggests that a substantial number of older adults with diabetes are being overtreated for the disease. Common symptoms of hypoglycemia include trembling, sweating, anxiety and heart palpitations.